Roll-press for forming weakened lines in can-heads.



No. 654,256. Patented July 24, I900. H. C. HUNTER.

ROLL PRESS FOR FORMING WEAKENED LINES IN CAN HEADS.

(Application filed July 23, 1898.)

2 $heets-Shaet I,

(No Model.)

No. 654,256. Patented July 24, I900. H. C. HUNTER.

ROLL PRESS FOR FORMING WEAKENED LINES IN CAN HEADS.

(Application filed July 23, 1898.)

2 SheetsSheat 2.

(No Model.)

lizvezzr Rnfs PETERS co. woroumo WASHINGTON nv HENRY C. HUNTER, OFHAMILTON, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE CANISTERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILLIPS- BURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLL-PRESS FOR FORMING W EAKENED LINES IN CAN-HEADS.

SBEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 654,256, dated July24;, 1900.

Application filed July 22, 1898.

T ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Roll-Presses for Forming VVeakened Lines inCan-Heads or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the making of heads IQ for cans and canisters,and though not limited to any particular kind of head is moreparticularly designed for that class of cans or canisters shown inLetters Patent of the United States No. 492,806, granted to me on I5 the7th day of March, 1893. In cans and canisters of this class it isdesirable to remove the head without disturbing the rim of the head,which is attached to the edge of the can-body. It is also desirable inany kind of cans, canisters, and the like in which the contents are usedfor domestic purposes that the head should be readily removable withoutthe use of special tools. To this end a partial removal of the metal ormaterial of the head on the line of required rupture has been devised ina simple and economical manner. My invention herein set forth includesthe machinery for and the method of forming such a weakened line ofuniform thinness, but without 0 actual rupture, this not taking placeuntil the head is intentionally severed.

The easy removal of the head without the use of a special tool requiresthat it be extremely thin on the weakened line. If this be done bystamping or by a graving-tool, there is danger that the line may be insome parts left too thick and that in some parts the metal may be cut tosuch a degree as to causeabreak. To remedy this and to rapidly form theweakened line with absolute uniformity and certaintyis the specialobject of my method, which consists in gradually applying pressure uponthehead on the line to be weakened by means of dies movable one withrelation to the other in planes a fixed distance apart,the initialpressure being preferably applied at the corner of the can-head.

My invention also includes the mechanism as herein set forth.

. 8 Serial No. 686,735. (No model.)

I My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 shows a side elevation in which parts are in section. Fig. 2represents an end view with parts also in section. Figs. 3, 4:, and 5show detached parts and represent details of construction.

In the drawings the bed of the machine is shown at B, supported on asuitable standard A. It has a dovetail path in which slides a carriageC, formed with an inclined platform 2, on which is a wedge 3, whoseincline is reversed to that of the platform, so that the upper surfaceof the wedge is level.- On this upper surface is a stud 4, which holdsthe die 5. The wedge is adjustable to raise or lower and so adjust thedie in height by means of a screw 6. The wedge when adjusted is held byclamping-screws 7' and 8. The die is seated squarely and firmly on thewedge. Above the face of the die and with its axis in a line parallelwith the face of the die is a roller D, having a plain cylindricalbearing-surface of hardened steel. It is mounted in bearings in thesides 9 of a frame E, which is a part of the bed-casting. On the ends ofthe axles of the roller are shrunk sleeves 10 and 11, and on the ends ofthe roller are cog extensions 12. These cogs engage with rack-bars 13 onthe carriage C, so that as the roller is turned it causes the carriageto move under itself. The roller bears also on ribs let on the carriageto relieve the bearings. On the end of the sleeve 11 is a gear whichengages with a rack-bar 15, which is held in engagement with the teethof the gear 1 by means of an idle wheel 16. (Shown detached in Fig. 3and in place in.Fig. 1.) The back of the raok-bar is grooved to engagewith a rib on the idle wheel. The lower end of the rack-bar is pivotedto a wrist-pin 17 on the gear-wheel F, driven by a pinion G on the maindriving-shaft through pulley H. As the rack-bar is reciprocated it turnsthe roller first in one direction and then. in the opposite, causing itto reciprocate the carriage and carry the die back and forth under theroller while the roller turns. The rackbar has a curved rear face, asshown in Fig. 1, so that it is wider at the upper and lower 2 sumacbearing ends to compensate for the difierent angles it is compelled toassume and always to fit the space between the gear and the idle wheel.7

The die is shown more clearly in section in Fig. 4. It may be of anyconfiguration in plan required by the shape of the can. The form shownhas rounded corners and flattened sides. A rib 21 around the edge isprovided with a blunted edge adapted to form the groove in the head,which constitutes the weakened line.

The die is fitted to receive the stamped head resting on the rib 21. Thehead is put on the die when the latter is 'n position shown in Fig. 1.The elevation o the die edge is regulated by the wedge, so that a verynarrow space is left between said edge and the lower surface of theroller. As the die carrying the head passes under this roller the plateof the head is pressed evenly and with absolute'accuracy upon the dieedge, and the said edge is sunk therein a distance determined by thespace between the edge and the roller. This sinking of the edge of thedie into the metal by pressure leaves avery thin but com pressed film ofthe metal or other material of the head, and this film, though compactand still impervious, is capable of easy rupture.

I am careful to arrange the die, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the cornerfirst goes under the roller, and the work is thus done progressively andfrom the narrowest to the widest part by pressure between surfaceshaving fixed limits in relation to each other, one of these surfacesbeing a roller, and this same progressive action would be carried out inthe case of a round can.

, I do not wish to limit myselfto the use of a roller, as it ispractical to make the interstitial space of a determined size andrigidly exact with other forms of pressure means.

I claim- 1. In combination, a die having an edge adapted to form agroove, and a roller adapted to extend from side to side over the dieedge to act with diiferent portions thereof in succession, means fordetermining the interstitial space between the die edge and roller andmeans for movingone part in relation to the other whereby the rollerwill act progressively across the die from one edge to the other,substantially as described.

2. In combination, a flat die adapted to receive and hold a can-cap andhaving a die edge, a roller to act with said die edge, means fordetcrminin g the interstitial space between the die edge and roller, andmeans for moving one of said parts in relation to the other whereby theroller will act progressively across the die edge and from side to sideof the die, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the roller turning in fixed bearings, the die havingan edge, a movable carriage supporting the die, and means forreciprocating the carriage under the roller whereby the die. will becarried under the roller to make the same act on diflferent parts of thedie transversely across its top, the said roller and die having a fixedlimit in respect to the interstitial space between them, substantiallyas described.

4. In combination, the roller mounted in fixed bearings having cogs, acarriage, a rackbar thereon engaging with the cogs, means for rotatingthe roller and a die mounted on the carriage, said carriagereciprocating under the roll to make the same act transversely acrossthe top of the die from margin to margin substantially as described.

5. In combination with the roller having cogs, a die-carriage having arack-bar engaging with the roller-cogs, a cog-wheel on the roller-shaft,and a rack-lever held in engagement therewith, said lever being operatedby a wrist-pin,substantially as described.

6. In combination, in a machine for forming a weakened line in acan-head, a die hav ing an edge adapted to form a groove and a rollerhaving a fixed limit of action toward the die edge to maintain a uniforminterstitial space, said roller acting progressively from margin tomargin of the die edge and transversely across the top of the die,substantially as described.

7. In combination, a plain-faced roll, the lineally-moving carriage andthe die of rectangular or like form set upon the carriage with one ofits corners in advance to go under the roll first, the surface of theroll and the edge of the die having a fixed limit in relation to thespace between them substantially as described.

8. In combination with the roll and diecarriage geared together, therack-bar for turning the roll engaging a gear connected therewith, thewheel and crank-pin for re ciprocating the rack, and the guide for therack, said rack passing between the same and the gear-wheel and having acurved face, substantially as described.

9. In combination, the die having a cutting edge in one flat plane, anda roll having a fixed limit toward the die to maintain anniforminterstitial space, the plane of the die being tangential to theperiphery of the roller and the movement of the parts being progressivefrom margin to margin of the canhead and transversely across the top ofthe die, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY O. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

J. W. TERRY, II. C. GWYN.

